Eurostar reduces services amid ‘challenging environment’

Eurostar is today reported to be cutting one in 12 services from London St Pancras to Paris and Brussels, due to a “challenging environment”.

In addition, 80 staff are likely to lose their jobs.

Eurostar is expected to reveal which departures will be axed ahead of a new international timetable taking effect in December.

If cuts are applied proportionately, two daily trains to Paris and one to Brussels will be removed from the schedules, The Independent reported.

Because the high speed Channel Tunnel passenger rail service is introducing new, larger trains, the overall number of seats is unlikely to be affected.

A Eurostar spokesman said: “This is a challenging environment for all travel companies and we need to manage our costs very carefully. That’s why we are looking at the size and shape of our business.

“We are committed to minimising the impact of these changes on our colleagues and our current focus is on managing any reductions through voluntary redundancies and sabbaticals as much as possible.”

Eurostar reported a slight fall in passenger numbers in July but a more significant reduction – 10% in revenue over the previous three months.

Chief executive Nicolas Petrovic said at the time: “The uncertainty following the vote to leave, combined with the Brussels terrorist attack, has continued to dampen demand.”

Eurostar still plans to introduce direct services from London to Amsterdam at the end of 2017.

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